Anonymous
Post 01/17/2021 12:49     Subject: Re:Anne Arundel back on November 16 for K-2
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So is AA Co really going back 3/1? I know the BOE passed a motion to return last night, but still seems unlikely given (1) the aggressive timetable for teacher/staff vax and (2) the undefined "metrics" that will need to be met to return, now that we are disregarding the first set. Our BOE is such a joke - incompetent doesn't even begin to describe them.


The transition to an elected board couldn't have come at a worse time. NO ONE on the board is good at the basics of managing things and running a meeting a making a decision. It might have been fine if they had had an easy year to gain some competency, but ugh.... it's rough.

Anyway, my sense of the motion is that March 1 is really a no earlier than date. They had to do something, because the last motion had them going back at the start of 3rd quarter. So despite all the hand wringing, I think all we got was a kick-the-can-down the road without any action guidance.


Totally agree! I don’t think the motions passed this week will actually result in kids returning to the classroom. The AACPS BOE is the worst. They love to hear themselves talk and meetings that should take 2 hours go on for 6+ hours every time. It is clear none of them have ever had a professional job.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2021 10:48     Subject: Re:Anne Arundel back on November 16 for K-2
Anonymous wrote:So is AA Co really going back 3/1? I know the BOE passed a motion to return last night, but still seems unlikely given (1) the aggressive timetable for teacher/staff vax and (2) the undefined "metrics" that will need to be met to return, now that we are disregarding the first set. Our BOE is such a joke - incompetent doesn't even begin to describe them.


The transition to an elected board couldn't have come at a worse time. NO ONE on the board is good at the basics of managing things and running a meeting a making a decision. It might have been fine if they had had an easy year to gain some competency, but ugh.... it's rough.

Anyway, my sense of the motion is that March 1 is really a no earlier than date. They had to do something, because the last motion had them going back at the start of 3rd quarter. So despite all the hand wringing, I think all we got was a kick-the-can-down the road without any action guidance.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2021 10:03     Subject: Re:Anne Arundel back on November 16 for K-2
So is AA Co really going back 3/1? I know the BOE passed a motion to return last night, but still seems unlikely given (1) the aggressive timetable for teacher/staff vax and (2) the undefined "metrics" that will need to be met to return, now that we are disregarding the first set. Our BOE is such a joke - incompetent doesn't even begin to describe them.
Anonymous
Post 01/13/2021 17:57     Subject: Re:Anne Arundel back on November 16 for K-2
Anonymous wrote:AA Co is having a special BOE meeting on 1/14 to discuss reopening and the teacher's union is now pushing for both teachers to have vax AND to adhere to the 15/100K metric.

Essentially the union is asking for teachers be essential employees and receive a vaccine, yet not return to school building this school year (and most likely not this calendar year).

If you are in AA Co and feel children should be back in school, please email the BOE at boardoffice@aacps.org by ‪noon on Wednesday, Jan. 13 and let them know your thoughts!


That's not at all what I'm hearing from the teachers, or even from the PASS group.

My understanding is they want a vaccine OR stick with the lower health metrics. Dr. K. has already stated that once teachers are all vaccinated (or at least all given the option to be vaccinated) that he would be comfortable with reopening with higher case rates.
It's far more likely that all the teachers can be vaccinated before 4th quarter than the numbers get back down to 15/100K and <5%.
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2021 10:31     Subject: Re:Anne Arundel back on November 16 for K-2
AA Co is having a special BOE meeting on 1/14 to discuss reopening and the teacher's union is now pushing for both teachers to have vax AND to adhere to the 15/100K metric.

Essentially the union is asking for teachers be essential employees and receive a vaccine, yet not return to school building this school year (and most likely not this calendar year).

If you are in AA Co and feel children should be back in school, please email the BOE at boardoffice@aacps.org by ‪noon on Wednesday, Jan. 13 and let them know your thoughts!
Anonymous
Post 12/06/2020 07:12     Subject: Anne Arundel back on November 16 for K-2
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Let's be sure to send kids right before Thanksgiving so that we can put family members at risk, or miss out on holidays. GREAT MOVE!


That was my thought too. The 3 - 5 kids will get SIX whole days in person before winter break. Hardly seems worth the risk of travel/holidays/etc, not to mention the extra work for the teachers around the holidays.


Six is better than none. I don't know why this would disrupt anyone's holiday plans. Are people really staying in their houses 100% still? I see soccer games, kids at parks, kids at stores, what is the difference?

I have two kids, one in private high school and one in public. I can definitively say that having them in a classroom with a live teacher is much more beneficial for any length of time. If children who choose all virutal are with a new teacher, I get the disruption, but when there is a large cohort of virtural learners who are not also kids in the classroom, the coursework may be given on a different schedule or pace. The two hour learning break, for one. This may not happen with the kids who are on the hybrid but at home. Who knows?

Many unanswered questions which will need to be addressed, but progress is progress. And as for mask compliance issues, I know that there will always be a risk to someone's mask coming down under their noses or messing with them all day. Unless you keep your child home 100% of the time (in which you should do virutal learning), these things are happening out there daily. I have to correct my child on her mask placement and yes, it's a pain, but she does it when she notices. She's back in school and there have been zero cases in her Upper School.

I think change is scary and transition is tough. Those of us who have one child in private have seen it work out, so it's simply not as scary. For the record, we are keeping our kids home the week of Thanksgiving for an extra two days so we can see grandma without worrying a lot. We have the option to be in the virutal cohorts for days we are not in school for our oldest. It's a way to do so without losing ground academically. I hope that can be the case for public schools as well.

For so many who don't have stay at home parents or who are strugglin wtih virtual learning, those six days can be a god send. To those who don't want to go back, there are options while the options, granted, include more change.



Before I see my elderly parents? Yes, yes I am staying in my house for two weeks.


I'm not sure what point you are making. Should schools remain closed so that you can see your elderly parent?


Right... if you are not comfortable, simply don't send your kid back. Stay virtual. Problem solved! Nobody is forcing you to return.


Exactly this, and the number of people flying to Florida for Thanksgiving from this area really not very large . . .


Hi from the future! How are you? Nice to see you.
Anonymous
Post 10/27/2020 10:51     Subject: Anne Arundel back on November 16 for K-2
Anonymous wrote:So now that they've delayed teacher return a week, any bets as to the results of the 11/4 BoE meeting?

I'm guessing they will look at the cases (>10/10000) and call it until January.


Agreed. I don't think they are going back this calendar year. And the case counts in January won't be any better, and it won't make any sense to go back in April for just 2 months if cases drop. So, my guess is we'll be virtual all school year.
Anonymous
Post 10/27/2020 10:21     Subject: Anne Arundel back on November 16 for K-2
So now that they've delayed teacher return a week, any bets as to the results of the 11/4 BoE meeting?

I'm guessing they will look at the cases (>10/10000) and call it until January.
Anonymous
Post 10/17/2020 22:27     Subject: Anne Arundel back on November 16 for K-2
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Let's be sure to send kids right before Thanksgiving so that we can put family members at risk, or miss out on holidays. GREAT MOVE!


Are you serious? Do you not even know what Anne Arundel's numbers have been like, for many months, despite the influx of tourists?

My kid has been hybrid in private school in AA Co all year and it's gone brilliantly. And the school has, obviously, not had an outbreak.


How nice for you. School of the Incarnation around the corner from me did have an outbreak.


Really? They had an "outbreak" or a few cases?


Enough cases to shut down a whole grade and pull siblings out of other grades, so whatever you like.


So, one case.


SOTI did not have an “outbreak”.
They had one teacher who caught covid from outside of school but they acting swiftly to limit the spread.
That’s it.
But, sure, major outbreak.

Public schools need to stay closed because the parents lack intelligence themselves. There is zero incentive to open the public school system now. I am a SOTI parent who wouldn’t send my child to a public school if it was the only school available - ever. This has proved beyond reason that the school system in Anne Arundel County can’t handle even the most basic of organizational plans.

Stay closed! Our commute is shorter to work without the traffic. Our kids are happy and learning on campus. There is no outbreak of covid19 on campus. Sports are running again for most independent schools.
Keep that community spread down by keeping the public schools closed and virtual. All of us truly appreciate your helping our kids get a good education.
Anonymous
Post 10/17/2020 21:52     Subject: Anne Arundel back on November 16 for K-2
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Let's be sure to send kids right before Thanksgiving so that we can put family members at risk, or miss out on holidays. GREAT MOVE!


Are you serious? Do you not even know what Anne Arundel's numbers have been like, for many months, despite the influx of tourists?

My kid has been hybrid in private school in AA Co all year and it's gone brilliantly. And the school has, obviously, not had an outbreak.


How nice for you. School of the Incarnation around the corner from me did have an outbreak.


Really? They had an "outbreak" or a few cases?


Enough cases to shut down a whole grade and pull siblings out of other grades, so whatever you like.


So, one case.
Anonymous
Post 10/17/2020 21:47     Subject: Anne Arundel back on November 16 for K-2
Anonymous wrote:Let's be sure to send kids right before Thanksgiving so that we can put family members at risk, or miss out on holidays. GREAT MOVE!


If you are worried about COVID, you probably shouldn’t be going to large family gatherings — especially indoors where eating, drinking, and taking will be done over the course of several hours. Data shows that is far, far riskier than in person schooling. Just to state the completely obvious.
Anonymous
Post 10/16/2020 19:47     Subject: Re:Anne Arundel back on November 16 for K-2


PASS is a total cluster of teachers and parents who are revving each other up like hybrid learning is the enemy. The sad part is, the people coordinating the effort are very uneducated in general in terms to what hybrid actually looks like in the county with private and parochial schools. They are pushing efforts with fear and misinformation.




100%. I couldn't agree more. The de facto "leader" of PASS is making the situation worse, not better, and further dividing the AA Co school community, instead of getting folks to work together to find a solution. She's a total idiot.

We have two kids enrolled currently enrolled in the public elementary and I am happy to say we may be getting a spot at a local private school. I cannot wait to leave this whole mess behind. Good luck AACPS - you will need it!
Anonymous
Post 10/16/2020 15:57     Subject: Re:Anne Arundel back on November 16 for K-2
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have a friend with a son in 2nd grade in AA. He said he has to stay in a 6x6 area, wear a mask all day except when eating lunch and they don't get to go outside. I am all for the kids going back safely, but not like this.

They should be able to take mask breaks and go outside.


Is this public or private? Is there a reason why they kids can't go outside?


Public.
I dont know ( I am the PP) I asked if they have to wear their masks outside and he ( The Dad) said theyre not going outside. I said, not at all, and he said no. They stay in their classroom.


Same PP. This hasnt started. This is what he has been told about the hybrid return.


You are relying on a 7 year old to report accurately what hybrid will be like?


PASS is a total cluster of teachers and parents who are revving each other up like hybrid learning is the enemy. The sad part is, the people coordinating the effort are very uneducated in general in terms to what hybrid actually looks like in the county with private and parochial schools. They are pushing efforts with fear and misinformation.

If the school system follows their lead, it shows how deeply misrun the entire system truly is. Most private schools are doing well with hybrid plans in the county. Cases are low. Policies are in place. The county looks like a bunch of scared, misinformed bufoons running around claiming that virtual learning is wonderful. The school system wil CHANGE your TEACHER mid year while, seriously, they change teachers all the time. That only 6 days of in person learning don't count for anything. That a 6x6 pen will keep your child. That teachers need to "practice wearing masks" on google meet so that parents can make an educated decison (NEWSFLASH: people have been wearing masks and talking to your children for months! And, even in 2021-2022 school year, your child's teacher WILL BE WEARING A MASK)

The principals are trying to counter the narrative and explain there WILL BE CIRCLE TIME. There will be INTERACTION. There will be a genuine learning environment and not distance learning with a teacher at the front of the room. That narrative isn't fitting PASS' goal of keeping teachers and children home. Listen to your administrators and not the voice of hysteria!

It's all fear tactics and shows the true politics of these decisions. Some parents and students need hybrid learning. We need choice. States are all around us with higher covid19 cases and are soundly teaching in a hybrid system without outbreaks. How can this data be ignored? How can elected officials not see the hype against in person learning for just that?

If you don't want to send your child, you will have options. Teachers and Administrationators need to keep their dysfunction out of the public eye if they want to continue this ridiculous way of running a school system.

Parents and Students are caught in the middle of all of this with a terrible version of education which is not effective for so many. Private schools are packed with waiting lists. Some of those kids will not be coming back to public schools. Funding has walked out of the building for the precious students they are aiming to protect with virtual learning.

Anonymous
Post 10/16/2020 14:28     Subject: Re:Anne Arundel back on November 16 for K-2
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have a friend with a son in 2nd grade in AA. He said he has to stay in a 6x6 area, wear a mask all day except when eating lunch and they don't get to go outside. I am all for the kids going back safely, but not like this.

They should be able to take mask breaks and go outside.


Is this public or private? Is there a reason why they kids can't go outside?


Public.
I dont know ( I am the PP) I asked if they have to wear their masks outside and he ( The Dad) said theyre not going outside. I said, not at all, and he said no. They stay in their classroom.


Same PP. This hasnt started. This is what he has been told about the hybrid return.


You are relying on a 7 year old to report accurately what hybrid will be like?


Much like anything else a 7 year old would say, it's not entirely accurate.

My children are back in school on campus in a private school. They have 2 mask breaks a day in addition to lunch. They love having extra 'recess' time. They do not pen children in 6x6 pens like solitary confinement in the yard. She's happy that no one can touch her desk and her stuff anymore.
I couldn't convince either of my children to go back to virtual learning 100% now that weve made the switch. They LOVE being in the classroom, even if it's this new strange normal of having a teacher teach up front, using google classroom, and the kids have to wear masks.

Public school parents and teachers need to get a grip. This isn't changing. Whether now or in 2021, this is a new way of being in the classroom.


+1. We need to learn how to live with this virus, and be comfortable making modifications to the school format, otherwise we won't be back in the MD public schools until 2022 at the earliest. And that's being optimistic at this rate.

In AA Co, it's not just the teachers (being led by TAAAC) that are the problem. The parents are now also hysterical, and the new FB group "PASS" is not helping. I think 60-80% of the kids at our school will be opting to stay virtual.


Anonymous
Post 10/16/2020 14:19     Subject: Re:Anne Arundel back on November 16 for K-2
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have a friend with a son in 2nd grade in AA. He said he has to stay in a 6x6 area, wear a mask all day except when eating lunch and they don't get to go outside. I am all for the kids going back safely, but not like this.

They should be able to take mask breaks and go outside.


Is this public or private? Is there a reason why they kids can't go outside?


Public.
I dont know ( I am the PP) I asked if they have to wear their masks outside and he ( The Dad) said theyre not going outside. I said, not at all, and he said no. They stay in their classroom.


Same PP. This hasnt started. This is what he has been told about the hybrid return.


You are relying on a 7 year old to report accurately what hybrid will be like?


Much like anything else a 7 year old would say, it's not entirely accurate.

My children are back in school on campus in a private school. They have 2 mask breaks a day in addition to lunch. They love having extra 'recess' time. They do not pen children in 6x6 pens like solitary confinement in the yard. She's happy that no one can touch her desk and her stuff anymore.
I couldn't convince either of my children to go back to virtual learning 100% now that weve made the switch. They LOVE being in the classroom, even if it's this new strange normal of having a teacher teach up front, using google classroom, and the kids have to wear masks.

Public school parents and teachers need to get a grip. This isn't changing. Whether now or in 2021, this is a new way of being in the classroom.